In this blog post, we’ll examine whether shared accommodations offer a safe way to experience local culture while traveling, and explore how communication, safety, and legal issues are addressed through real-life experiences and case studies.
The sharing economy has recently emerged as a major topic of discussion. The sharing economy is a concept of collaborative consumption where products, once produced, are shared and used by multiple people; it refers to an economic model in which mutual benefits are derived by utilizing underutilized resources. Among these, shared accommodation refers to renting out unused space in one’s own home for lodging. Often, the entire home is rented out or includes cooking facilities, and thanks to the advantage of being able to experience local life firsthand, more people worldwide are increasingly using shared accommodation. The number of companies operating as shared accommodation platforms—such as Airbnb, TripAdvisor, CouchSurfing, HomeAway, and HouseTrip—is rapidly increasing, and the number of registered properties has surpassed 1.5 million.
Amid this trend, Airbnb, a platform specializing in shared accommodation, entered the Korean market in 2013; however, generating rental income by renting out spare rooms in Korea is illegal under current law. This is because short-term rentals through properties not registered as lodging businesses or urban guesthouses are not permitted. In 2015, the Busan District Court fined a private individual 700,000 won for engaging in commercial activities by renting out their home in Haeundae through Airbnb. This was because, according to Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the Public Health Management Act, anyone wishing to operate a lodging business must report it to the relevant district office. For these reasons, shared lodging has not taken off in Korea, and many people harbor a vague aversion to it or perceive it as problematic.
Long ago, before traveling to Europe, I too had fears about homestays. Since I was traveling with my younger sister, safety was one of the biggest concerns, and I didn’t know what kind of people or culture I would encounter in Europe, a place I had never visited before. I booked the stay thinking it would be a good way to experience local life, but I was filled with worry from the moment I boarded the plane. Fortunately, however, my days there turned out to be quite different from my worries.
“Would you like to have some tea?” That was what Joan, the elderly hostess of the house where I stayed in London during my trip to Europe this past August, said to me when we first met.
I stayed at Joan’s home in South Croydon, London, for five days through the accommodation-sharing platform Airbnb. At the time, my younger sister and I had arrived late at night after waiting through the UK’s strict immigration screening, and feeling awkward about drinking tea so late, I shyly replied, “Water, please.” Joan seemed a little surprised but kindly brought me water, and my sister and I were taken aback when we realized it was tap water. As time went on, we came to understand why we had both been taken aback during our first meeting. Joan asked us if we’d like some tea every morning and evening when we ran into each other—apparently, people in the UK really do drink tea frequently. Also, many people in London have been drinking tap water for a long time.
My sister and I would go out after breakfast and return in the evening, so we mostly chatted in the mornings. Joan was a retired physical education teacher, and my sister also dreamed of becoming a PE teacher. Thanks to this, we were able to hear Joan’s story about how she became a teacher. Joan said she became a teacher after graduating from the University of London, and even back then, one had to be proficient in various sports to become a teacher. The photo of her doing gymnastics in her yearbook, which Joan showed us, made her look different, and the sight of British students in the black-and-white photo struck me as fascinating. Above all, it was somewhat surprising that she would show us her graduation photo and chat with us, complete strangers. As we talked about university, I also learned about the British college admissions system; apparently, the UK has an exam similar to Korea’s CSAT, and you have to do well on it to get into the university of your choice. Joan spoke with regret about her grandson not getting into the university he wanted, and I felt a sense of closeness seeing her like that.
The house where we stayed with Joan had a garden. One morning, after breakfast, we relaxed and chatted in the garden behind the house. For a privately tended garden, it was very neat and beautiful. Joan said she spends a lot of her day in the garden. In one corner of the garden, she was growing tomatoes and cucumbers, and next to that was a little house set up for small birds. She explained that the birds didn’t actually live there; instead, she placed fruit inside for them to eat, and they would come for a meal before flying away again. What was surprising was that even a small fox would occasionally visit the garden to eat some fruit before leaving.
The project Joan had been focusing on recently was making costumes for a festival at a nearby school for children with disabilities. She does this purely as volunteer work, sewing costumes for plays and uniforms for the choir herself. Thanks to this, last year a student even invited Joan to be their prom date, and she attended the party. It was truly refreshing to hear that a student had invited a neighborly grandmother—rather than a peer—to enjoy the graduation party together.
I’m the kind of person who thinks food is the most important part of traveling. And just as many people say, British food wasn’t very tasty. Over the course of five days, I ate a variety of foods—from sandwiches to steak, hamburgers, and the traditional British dish fish and chips—but the most edible item among them was a sushi set from a sushi chain. Even so, the reason my trip to the UK stands out most in my memory is that I was able to listen to people’s stories there. After my experience in the UK, I began to hope that more people would create happy memories through travel.
While researching shared accommodations in depth, I discovered several reasons why people are hesitant to use them. The main concerns are language barriers, safety issues, and legal concerns.
First, some people avoid shared accommodations due to communication concerns. However, current booking platforms provide features that allow you to communicate with the host before and after making a reservation. Just as hotel bookings are often conducted in English, the vocabulary related to accommodations is limited, so you can ask all necessary questions using simple English. If a host is unfriendly or there are communication issues, you can always find another host. Since communication ratings are one of the key criteria on shared accommodation platforms, you can also decide whether to book based on these ratings.
Additionally, safety concerns can also be assessed through guest reviews. Since detailed evaluations are provided regarding the host’s personality, the property’s location, and the surrounding environment, you can make an informed decision after thoroughly reviewing this information.
Some people are concerned about legal issues. However, systems are in place—such as the policy of Tujia, a home-sharing company founded in China—to prevent tourists from becoming involved in legal problems by pre-screening and excluding illegal properties during the listing review process. Furthermore, countries around the world are embracing shared accommodation as a new trend and are moving toward establishing appropriate laws and regulations. For example, Amsterdam, Netherlands, imposes a 5.5% tourism tax on hosts offering shared accommodation, while San Francisco, USA, requires hosts to carry liability insurance with a coverage limit of $500,000, establishing systems that ensure hosts are accountable. Thanks to these systems, travelers can use shared accommodation without excessive worry.
Many people in the U.S., Europe, and Australia solve their accommodation issues by exchanging homes when traveling to other countries. The reason they feel comfortable sharing their homes with others stems from a cultural mindset that views a home not as an asset to be valued, but as a cherished space to be shared. This differs somewhat from Eastern cultures, where hosting guests in one’s home is considered an important act of hospitality. The best way to experience this culture is to try it for yourself.
Since my trip to the UK, I’ve been recommending to people around me that they try homestays through shared accommodation when they travel. If circumstances allow, I would also like to become a host and share my home with tourists. Of course, issues remain, such as how to handle problems that arise while the host is away or what protective measures are available in the event of a crime. However, as policies and regulations suitable for home-sharing are being rapidly established, a happy homestay experience is well within reach with just a little caution.
We often hear the term “global era,” but opportunities to experience it firsthand are rare. If you get the chance to travel, why not try becoming a part of the global era through home-sharing? It doesn’t have to be a distant destination. If a vastly different culture feels overwhelming, start with a country like Japan, which shares a culture similar to Korea’s. You might find yourself seamlessly blending into the local way of life before you know it.
